Cruz glad to be a ‘wacko bird’

Texas Sen. Ted Cruz has been called many things, from the next Joe McCarthy to most recently a ‘wacko bird’.

But Cruz, who spoke to a group of fellow conservatives at the Weyrich Awards dinner Wednesday evening, seems only encouraged by the comments, Politico reports.

“It is wonderful to be among friends or, as some might say, fellow wacko birds,” he said, without mentioning McCain by name. “If standing for the Constitution, standing for liberty, standing for values makes one a wacko bird…then I am pleased that birds of a feather flock together.”

Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., recently made a jab at Cruz, Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky, and Rep. John Amish, R-Mich., in an interview with The Huffington Post, referring to the three lawmakers as “wacko birds” for their participation in the filibuster of CIA Director John Brennan over drone policy. The filibuster was the first major speech the freshman senator gave on the Senate floor.

The freshman senator’s speech Wednesday evening came just before the start of the Conservative Political Action Conference, which begins today in D.C. Cruz will be giving the conference’s closing speech on Saturday.

Cruz was a Tea Party favorite during the 2012 election and won with the help of a large grassroots effort. At the dinner, Cruz talked about his senate race and said Republicans had their fare share of defeat in 2012, but looking into the future, the party must not lose sight of principle, Politico reports.

“I think 2014 has the potential to be a very, very good year at the ballot box but let me tell you right now: the number one way we could screw it up is if Republicans fail to stand for principle,” he said.